| Flag Size: | 120x80px | ||
| Seal Size: | 100x80px | ||
| Image Map1: |
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| Pushpin Map: | Philippines | ||
| Pushpin Label Position: | left | ||
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within the | ||
| Subdivision Type: | Country | ||
| Subdivision Name: | Philippines | ||
| Subdivision Type1: | Region | ||
| Subdivision Type2: | Province | ||
| Nickname: | The Sea Urchin Capital of the North | ||
| Subdivision Type3: | District | ||
| Established Title: | Founded | ||
| Parts Type: | Barangays | ||
| Parts Style: | para | ||
| P1: | (see Barangays) | ||
| Leader Name: | Aleli U. Concepcion | ||
| Leader Title1: | Vice Mayor | ||
| Leader Name1: | Carlo Castor U. Concepcion | ||
| Leader Name2: | Pablo C. Ortega | ||
| Leader Title3: | Municipal Council | ||
| Leader Title4: | Electorate | ||
| Leader Name4: | voters (electorate_point_in_time}}|) | ||
| Elevation Max M: | 311 | ||
| Elevation Min M: | 0 | ||
| Population Density Km2: | auto | ||
| Population Blank1 Title: | Households | ||
| Timezone: | PST | ||
| Utc Offset: | +8 | ||
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code | ||
| Demographics Type1: | Economy | ||
| Demographics1 Title2: | Poverty incidence | ||
| Demographics1 Info2: | % | ||
| Demographics1 Title3: | Revenue | ||
| Demographics1 Info3: | (2021) | ||
| Demographics1 Title4: | Revenue rank | ||
| Demographics1 Title5: | Assets | ||
| Demographics1 Info5: | (2021) | ||
| Demographics1 Title6: | Assets rank | ||
| Demographics1 Title7: | IRA | ||
| Demographics1 Title8: | Equity | ||
| Demographics1 Info8: | (2021) | ||
| Demographics1 Title9: | Expenditure | ||
| Demographics1 Info9: | (2021) | ||
| Demographics1 Title10: | Liabilities | ||
| Demographics1 Info10: | (2021) | ||
| Demographics Type2: | Service provider | ||
| Demographics2 Title1: | Electricity | ||
| Demographics2 Title2: | Water | ||
| Demographics2 Title3: | Telecommunications | ||
| Demographics2 Title4: | Cable TV | ||
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | Native languages | ||
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | Crime index | ||
| Blank1 Name Sec2: | Major religions | ||
| Blank2 Name Sec2: | Feast date | ||
| Blank3 Name Sec2: | Catholic diocese | ||
| Blank4 Name Sec2: | Patron saint | ||
Balaoan, officially the Municipality of Balaoan (Iloko: Ili ti Balaoan; Filipino; Pilipino: Bayan ng Balaoan), is a 1st class municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 40,339.
According to William Scott, "Balaoan itself was an emporium for the exchange of Igorot gold."[1]
Balaoan, formerly "Puraw" (meaning "white') was originally part of Ilocos Sur. The town's present name originated during the Spanish colonial era. A group of Spanish soldiers were on patrol and went on to rest on a sitio. The villagers were curious about the soldiers because of their unusual descent and fair skin color (others have olive skin, which is still lighter than the skin tone of villagers). They flocked the soldiers touching their guns, too afraid that the guns might explode accidentally, one villager asked the soldier in a local vernacular.. "Aoan bala?" ("Awan bala?" in modern spelling, meaning "No bullets?"). The soldier did not understand what the villager meant, he uttered the last word first, and remembering the last, he said "Bala-aoan", which is pronounced on its modern town name "Balaoan".
During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, a secret society of insurrectos was organized in the municipality. Its purpose was to fight and revolt against the Spanish Government in the area. On the eve of the revolution, a traitor told the Spanish of their plan. The Spanish soldiers, without any investigation, arrested seven members of the secret society and executed them the same night. Only one, Fernando Ostrea, escaped with leg wounds. He informed the people about what had happened. In memory of the seven Martyrs, a masonic lodge, Siete Martires Lodge No. 177, was organized.
Balaoan is one of the oldest municipalities in La Union, having been founded in 1704. Its first Capitan is Ignacio Duldulao.
Balaoan is situated north of Bacnotan, south of Bangar, east of Luna and west of Santol. Located north of San Fernando City, the provincial capital of La Union and the regional capital of Region I. Balaoan is north of Metro Manila. Barangay Paraoir is Balaoan's pristine coastal community on the South China Sea.
Balaoan can be reached from Manila using the MacArthur Highway, or by airplane via Canaoay Airport in San Fernando City.
Its land area of consists mostly of agricultural lands. It occupies 4.3% of the total area of the province.
Balaoan is politically subdivided into 36 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.
In the 2020 census, the population of Balaoan was 40,339 people, with a density of NaNPD/km2NaNPD/km2.
The dominant language spoken in Balaoan is Ilocano.
The church of Balaoan is under the advocacy of the town's patron saint, St. Nicholas of Tolentino, whose feast day is celebrated on September. Balaoan's town fiesta is celebrated every December 21 to 23 of the year.
See main article: Sangguniang Bayan. Balaoan, belonging to the first congressional district of the province of La Union, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Congressman | Pablo C. Ortega |
| Mayor | Aleli U. Concepcion |
| Vice-Mayor | Carlo Castor U. Concepcion |
| Councilors | Joanna Katrina L. Ledda |
| Rogelio O. Concepcion | |
| Rogelio E. Opinaldo | |
| Michael D. Marron | |
| Rosie M. Is-isa | |
| Herminia M. Ordinario | |
| Emiliana P. Portacio | |
| Marife C. Hermosura | |